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Gylfi Sigurdsson has insisted the only surprise about Bob Bradley's Swansea City appointment is just how good he's been.

Bradley's arrival at the Liberty shocked some after he was named as the man to drag the club away from relegation worries despite lacking in any top level club experience in Europe.

Failure to win any of his three games in charge since replacing Francesco Guidolin has done little to quell doubts from suspicious supporters over the 58-year-old's ability, with plenty mocking the American's credentials following his appointment with the club under American ownership.

And he goes into Sunday's clash with Manchester United in desperate need of victory to lift the relegation gloom engulfing the Liberty – and few giving the former US boss or his side much chance of doing so.

But Sigurdsson has revealed Bradley has won over the dressing room by hitting the ground running on the training pitch, surprising stars with just his early methods.

“When a manager leaves, you don't tend to focus on the speculation or who might be replacing him,” said Sigurdsson. “But when the new manager came in it was a good surprise to see how good his training was and how he has come across.

“He obviously knows his football, his knowledge is very good, and everyone I've spoken to who has worked with him in the past say he's really good – and we are seeing that ourselves.”

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But he did accept he would have to prove himself, and despite encouraging signs at times, the frustrating home draw with Watford and the disappointing defeat to Stoke coming after a debut loss to Arsenal at the Emirates have left him with it all to do.

But Sigurdsson – who skippered Swansea for the first time in the clash with the Potters – said: “Players and managers are judged on results, but I'm telling you he is very good.

“A lot of the lads like his training, even if it is very tough, and he wants us to play football in the way Swansea has been known for in the last few years.

“It's a just a matter of just getting results. As players we believe in him and believe we are going to move forward – and hopefully very soon.

“We have a good manager to help us, but it's down to us to perform and get the three points wherever it comes.”

Swansea have picked up just two points from their last nine games and have not tasted victory since an opening day win at Burnley. It has left the side more than a win from safety at this early stage and left many fearing the worst.

But Sigurdsson has insisted there is reason to draw parallels with last term when the side went through a run of just one win in 13, picking up only two more points than the five gained from the first ten fixtures of this campaign.

Swansea secured vital home victories over West Brom and Watford soon after, proving the launchpad for a successful survival bid with Sigurdsson at the heart of it.

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And the 27-year-old has underlined the importance of needing a win by any means necessary to turn the corner under new man Bradley.

He said: “We just need to take that win, whether it's from playing good football or being ugly away from home, it just needs to come.

“We were in a similar position last year around December January. Of course we know what to do: we need to improve defensively and offensively. We need to concede less goals and score more goals.

“It's not easy but I can honestly say the team spirit is still good, the boys are together and really believe ion what the manager is doing. One day the hard work we're putting in will pay off. It's similar to last year where we needed one game, after not winning for so long, to turn for us. We need that one win to bring our confidence back and we can restart the season.

“It's not going to be easy, the run of fixtures has been tough and it's not getting easier. We were very disappointed not to win against Watford, even though we played quite well and created a lot of chances. We weren't good enough at Stoke and perhaps it will just take a scrappy 1-0 win to get three points somewhere and give us that chance.”

Swansea City players celebrate their win over Manchester United last August in the Premier League

The hope will be that it comes against United, a side who have their own struggles for form but have world class players to call upon.

It will leave Swansea hoping they can follow up recent home clashes with the Old Trafford giants, two 2-1 wins seeing the Liberty side develop into something of a bogey team for the Red Devils.

But Sigurdsson warned: “We have a good record against United in the past and you never know, but they have world class players and it's obvious you are going to have to be at your best to get something out of the game.”